FADE IN.
INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY
PETER watches TV news. Riot scenes. Peter's WIFE gets to the door.
PETER'S WIFE
I'm going to work now.
PETER
Use the less-congested
route. And take care.
His wife nods. Peter continues to watch the news.
PETER (V.O.)
The HK Polytechnic
University is so alien
to me now... I studied
estate surveying there.
MONTAGE OF PETER'S HK POLYTECHNIC EXPERIENCE
A. 1980. Lecture room. Peter (26) is following a lecture attentively.
B. 1980. Library. Seeing in a bookshelf volumes of the Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Peter looks overjoyed.
C. 1980 - 1982. Swimming pool. Peter swims frog style leisurely.
END MONTAGE.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
The rioters used it to
practise the throwing
of their Molotov cocktails.
They aren't students.
They're just criminals.
No more pretensions.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
My younger son quit
the University two years
ago and has been reading
medicine overseas. What
a good coincidence.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I can avoid going to
the rioting area. Let
me see if I can have
my car checked and
get a roadworthy
certificate.
Peter makes a call.
PETER
(To phone)
Any vacancy... today?
SOMEONE
(From phone)
Yes... even now.
INT. CAR EXAMINATION CENTER - DAY
Waiting room. Peter reads a car magazine while enjoying a cup of coffee.
PETER (V.O.)
I used to subscribe to
the magazine and was
lured to buy new cars.
Peter turns a page.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
This model looks nice.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Should I go wild and
buy a car to make me
happy? But managing
my present ones are
already time-consuming.
I've to exercise self-
control. No...no.
A MECHANIC (40s) comes in with papers in hand. He then passes them to Peter.
PETER
(Smiling)
Thank you.
PETER (V.O.)
Done! Immediate
gratification is
possible for small
matters like this.
INT. SLEEPING ROOM - DAY
As he puts the papers inside a thick folder, Peter hesitates.
PETER (V.O.)
Let me sort the papers
and throw away the
expired car insurance
policies.
Then, Peter sees stamps on envelopes.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I used to collect stamps
and have been reluctant
to throw away any used
stamps.
Carefully, Peter tears off envelope corners with stamps. He then turns on a toilet sink tap and puts the envelope corners in the water.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
(Smiling)
That was what I liked
to do when I was a kid.
I feel young and
innocent!
EXT. SWIMMING POOL - DAY
Pool wall. An INSTRUCTOR (30s) is guiding two SWIMMERS (16) how to swim better.
INSTRUCTOR
...you use your hip
bones to twist...
PETER (V.O.)
That makes sense!
That's how I learn
with the young to
do better - free of
charge.
Then, Peter swims free style.
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Peter is watching TV news.
PETER (V.O.)
The rioters now want
to flee from responsibility?
They've made many
innocent people in Hong
Kong suffer. You can't
have your cake and
eat it.
Peter checks and reads a mail.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Wishing me a pleasant
week? I do feel it. Many
thanks!
Peter smiles.
FADE OUT. The End